daveydo5172

They are keeping the apocalyptic theming only....anything and everything to do with "Terminator" is gone...including the name...

Johnny Rockets could be on the way out of the parks as well!

SCREAMSCAPE is reporting: According to the L.A. Times, Terminator Salvation is no more! The chain has ended its lease/rights to all of the Thomas Town and Tony Hawk connections...along with Terminator Salvation....IT WILL BE RE-THEMED INSTEAD!

There was much speculation and rumors, however, I interviewed the Batt family a few years back, and they werent able to compete financially with the likes of Disneyworld and Astroworld, which were there closest competitors. Also, insurance rates went through the roof in Louisiana at the time, the big recession of '82 and '83(which hit New Orleans very hard) also played factors in the closing of the park.

yeah, it was always a touching reminder for me for the park that I lost. Did you ride the Zephyr as well, when you went?

It was either the first or second arrow loop-screw in the country, I believe

It was very tropical, so much so that the Elvis Presley movie, "Blue Hawaii" had scenes filmed at the park.

The following rides were located to other parks: Ragin Cajun = Steamin" Demon at the Great Escape The Log Ride = relocated to Indiana Beach and still operating(I believe) the Paratrooper = also relocated to Indiana Beach the Galaxy roller coaster = relocated to Fun Fair Park in Baton Rouge and now at Dixie Landing in Baton Rouge the Yo-Yo = Hamel's Amusement Park Jungle Jeeps = In storage at Dixie Landing Astro Wheel = In storage at Dixie Landing

From 1928 to 1983, New Orleanians would enjoy their summer days basking on the beaches or riding the thrilling rides of this "traditional" lakeside amusement park. The park was owned by the Batt family, who moved it from its original location on Bayou St. John, to its last location at the foot of Elysian Fields Ave, where it met Lake Pontchartrain. The park contained one of the best Vettel coasters, the Zephyr. The Screamin Demon from The Great Escape originally called Pontchartrain Beach home before being relocated to its current location. The park contained many classic rides, such as a tumble bug, caterpillar, rotor, whip and a virginia wheel. Basically just a long boardwalk, the park filled in any space possible with a new ride each year. I remember going to the park as a child, riding the Zephyr(my first coaster), the classic Sally Dark ride - The Haunted House, the Hard Rock, The Bug and many more. Like most southern parks, PB was originally segregated, and competed with Lincoln Beach, an all african-american park, just a few miles down the shoreline. The following photos come from my mother, certain private collections, photos from the web, as well as some brochure images to boot. I have included an online video of the Zephyr as well. More photos to come soon! Enjoy! Front entrance to the park Boardwalk area...sorry for the photo quality Zephyr lifthill. Cinema 180 The Ragin' Cajun(or Screamin' Demon) Ron Toomer's Ragin Cajun The corkscrews Ship's Ahoy Restaurant Always was afraid of this ride as a child.... The Zephyr The Sky Ride The Shy Ride and kids petting zoo. Sky Ride and Music Express The Haunted House Old Pontchartrain Beach postcard Old Pontchartrain Beach postcard Zephyr My brother on some childrens ride. Merry Go Round The Hard Rock - indoor drunken barrels ride themed to a mystical rock collection...very trippy, great light show...very loud as well. Kiddie Land Pennant The Ragin Cajun station, and corkscrew footer - circa 2007....has finally been demolished More Kiddie Land 1950's aerial picture of the park. Postcard Mini-Golf course..."Around the World in 18 Holes" Brochure Haunted House Pennant Admission tickets. Merlin Rainbow...yes, Pontchartrain Beach jumped on the whole "magic" bandwagon of the late 60's and 70's as well. Postcard Classic Beach poster from the final year. b_Zephyr[1].wmv Zephyr video from the internet.

You got 1 ride on Psyclone?

In the very early days of roller coasters, alot of "new, innovative ideas" were often tested at Coney Island.....this included a coaster that was literally a ferris wheel riding coaster rails, as well as a wooden coaster that made a jump, both forward and down, onto the rest of its track....these were actually built, and tested(without people) but for one reason or another(obviously safety), they never opened.

According to the LA Times, yesterday, they are keeping both sides backwards for the first few months, then turning one side forwards again so they can offer both experiences!

They really need a new attraction by Viper and X2....something up in that area...it always seems so empty....

Vegas needed the family route....we have 2 million people here, and they are all not swinging adults.....those family attracations catered to us locals as well.

Geez, I finally realize....the direction of the park now is totally the same that the direction Vegas has taken again.....experiment with the family idea, then scrap it just as it was getting good, and go back towards the adult theme/extreme park that Vegas has now taken.....which has just led the city to be trashy again! Nothing for the locals to do, nothing for kids to do....no more Wet n' Wild, no more Scandia, no Las Vegas WET water park.....Vegas' idea is that the money is in the adult crowd only....guess Magic Mountain has taken a page from Vegas' playbook!

It also says they are keeping the "fortress of solitude - ice cave entrance"...damn, I was hoping for a new station!

It also appears from the video the Superman's station is totally rebuilt...I hope so...that dirty, stinky, mildewy cave has got to go!

In regards to the comment made a few responses ago, would an amusement park show a computerized promotional video with rollercoasters that are fading in color? Of course not! And Deja Vu was just painted last year I believe, so I dont believe it would be painted again now. It usually goes down this time of the year for its annual refurb!

Thats where I drew the pink circle in my response a few pages back....thats where I thought it was going from looking at the video.....That area needs redevelopment!

^^^^^^ Technically, they are only putting in ONE new Thrill ride.....they are refurbishing another, and the third is a kiddie ride....the main focus for the park next year, in advertising, will be Green Lantern and a "new" Superman adventure, the( I believe yet to be truly named), "Kids Coaster" will just be the icing on the cake. As for the layout of Green Lantern, what the video shows could be the actual layout, or the person who created it could have just thrown in the standard "Insane" layout, and it could be something totally different in the end.

Says it will be nestled in by the Riddler....is it replacing Tidal Wave? Or is it going back by Batman? The video looks as if its back by Batman....where the pink circle is....

Wow...havent seen that in ages! Yes, thats the re-theming it needs!

Can you imagine what an extra $70, $80, $100 grand could do for this park - repaints, landscaping, really not that much money is needed to really make this special....I know they have new owners, and I hope they can get the proper financing to really make this park special again.

This is a crying shame! I feel so bad for this classic coaster and park.....The coaster has always been a little rough, but damn, those first 2 hills cant be beat! I really hope it turns out to be a good weekend for the park!

I would love to see a larger version of "Tranan" from S&S....that's my input on what P:18 should be!